I'm an Independent. I want to talk about Kerry with his supporters.

[Sagan]

I have maintained a somewhat neutral stance during the primaries. I never made a secret of the fact that I didn't care much for Lieberman and Gephardt, but I have always maintained that Dean, Kerry, Edwards and Clark were good men and all had their pros and cons.

Now that it seems that Kerry is definitely poised to take the nomination, I would like to address some of my concerns to his supporters here on DU. I'm NOT going to flame him, and I'll vote ABB even if the Dems nominate Bill O'Reilly. However, I believe that my questions/concerns are shared by many moderate Democrats and Independents, especially in the Red states.

1. Gun control -- what is Kerry's position here? Is it the safe, "let the states decide" strategy? I know he's a hunter.

2. Skull and Bones -- Just how pervasive an influence is this? Is it just a stupid frat or is this taken seriously? Will this prevent Kerry from being as tough on Chimpy as he can/should be? Especially if Kerry wins?

3. Washinton insider -- there is no doubt that several campaigns this year have been fueled by disgust for business as usual in D.C. Can Kerry position himself as someone whoc an be part of the solution instead of part of the problem?

To be honest, the IWR vote doesn't bother me as much as it used to. It's obvious that Congress was lied to by the Administration. I hope that the Kerry campaign has this argument cued up because the two things that the Chimpistas are going to hit Kerry with are "Massachussets Liberal" and "Hey, he voted FOR the war!".

I hope that none of the Kerry folks here take this as a flame. Kerry was never my first choice, though he is completely acceptable to me.

Help me become an enthusiastic Kerry supporter, because I will be goddammed before I do anything to help the Chimp get elected.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Hi there

1. Gun control -- what is Kerry's position here? Is it the safe, "let the states decide" strategy? I know he's a hunter.

He voted FOR the Brady bill, is for closing gun show loopholes and is for safety locks on handguns and for some regulation of automatic weapons and handguns.

More importantly he is FOR bringing opportunity to urban areas and increasing the possibility of college education to low income families and getting to the SOURCE of crime.

He supported the COPS program which IMHO, goes further to catch those using guns with criminal intent.

2. Skull and Bones -- Just how pervasive an influence is this? Is it just a stupid frat or is this taken seriously? Will this prevent Kerry from being as tough on Chimpy as he can/should be? Especially if Kerry wins?


S an B turned out the Bushes but it also turned out many philanthropists. I am much more concerned that a president is a pawn of the American Enterprise Institute than I am that he belonged to a secret fraternity. I can MUCH more easily trace the ills in this country to AEI than to S and B. I dpn't think he will go easy on Bush. I think he is the perfect person to take them on since he knows more about them than any other candidate.


3. Washinton insider -- there is no doubt that several campaigns this year have been fueled by disgust for business as usual in D.C. Can Kerry position himself as someone whoc an be part of the solution instead of part of the problem?


In 1996, Gingrich brought a bunch of Washington outsiders to congress. They are the problem. Reformer is just as scary as status quo. Kerry at least is somewhere between stauts quo and statesman. I'll take my changes one step at a time. I am not dismissing your question, just showing the other side of this OUTSIDER issue.

All in all, I know he will be a much better president than Bush, and his experience is more well rounded than the other candidates which is why I chose him.

He may get the "lberal" tag tied to him but depending on who he chooses for a running mate, it may end up being a moot issue.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. Just go to the source

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/

Shotgun in Hand, Kerry Defines His Gun-Control Stance

S&B is a non-issue. I dismiss it completely.

Washington insider? I see John as an inside/outsider. Better to know all the players and get things done. He's been doing it for years. He will accomplish a lot of good.

[littlejoe]

3. I have shared some of your concerns.

I was a Dean supporter, but when it became crystal clear that he was unelectable, I gave Kerry a close look.

Kerry does have a few warts, but nothing he cannot overcome. The special interest money is the most damning ammunition that Bush will have to use against Kerry, but only in the context of Kerry's seeming hypocrisy on the subject.

Kerry does believe in gun ownership, but he has called for a renewal of the Brady bill, as well as positioning himself against assault rifles.

Over the years, my impression of Kerry, (although I didn't scrutinize him or his record until recently) was that of a fence sitter. One who looked to see which way the wind was going to blow, before taking a stance on some issue.

But when I look at Kerry today, he strikes me as a man who realizes that he is in a unique position to bring about the kind of change that maybe he dreamed of after his Vietnam days. I think he will make a surprisingly good president.

I hope you will join the Kerry parade.